LCCF man, woman of year feted for service

Dozens gathered this week to honor the service and impact in the community of two Lee County residents.

The Lee County Community Foundation (LCCF) held its second annual celebration in honor of its 2013 Man and Woman of the Year Tuesday night at the Carolina Trace Country Club. Isabel Heins Lawrence and David Spivey were announced as the organization’s man and woman of the year in January and were honored with plaques and speeches Tuesday night.

The evening was a success, said LCCF President Howard Bokhoven, adding that he was pleased to have a celebration honoring the volunteers of Lee County.

“It went very well,” he said. “You would be amazed by how much volunteerism there is in Lee County. (Tuesday) we honored two of those individuals that have given unselfishly.”

Lawrence, who is credited with helping establish Sanford’s t.l.c. home, said she was undeserving of the award and was humbled by the experience. She joked that her life was like a Cracker Jack box.

“There has been some crunch and a whole lot of sweetness,” she said. “And this wonderful surprise is the prize at the bottom of the box.”

All of the people present in the room — including business, community and government leaders — are deserving of being recognized, Lawrence said.

“You are all the ones who make Sanford and Lee County such an absolutely wonderful place to live,” she said.

Spivey, who has served in a variety of positions in civic clubs and as chairman of the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, also said he was humbled by the experience and glad to be surrounded by his friends and family during the celebration.

“It was a humbling experience,” Spivey said. “The Community Foundation has done a wonderful job helping local nonprofits.”

Spivey was introduced by Robert Gilleland, who called Spivey an unselfish man as he told humorous stories about Spivey and his wife.

The Lee County Community Foundation makes long-term donations to nonprofits around the area, Bokhoven said. People can donate to LCCF three different ways: endowments, scholarships and unrestricted donations.